What is cystitis?

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder (the sac that stores urine) and is the most common type of urinary tract infection.  It usually occurs when bacteria that normally live in the bowel travel up the short tube (urethra) that connects the bladder to the outside. Once inside the bladder, these bacteria quickly grow.

Cystitis is common in women of all ages. Around 30-50 per cent of women will have cystitis at some time in their lives. A woman is most likely to get cystitis when sexually active, while pregnant and after menopause. The infection cannot be passed to others during sex. Women get cystitis more often than men because women have a shorter urethra. The urethral, vaginal and anal openings are also very close, making it easy for bacteria to be spread from one to the other.

What are the symptoms?

• Stinging or burning when you pass urine.
• Passing only small amounts of urine.
• An urge to pass urine more often.
• Feeling that the bladder is still full after passing urine.
• Smelly, cloudy, dark or bloody urine.
• Pain low down in the abdomen.
• Feeling unwell with nausea and fever.

Treatment

• A urine sample is necessary to test for infection.
• Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. You should take the full course even if you feel better, as some bacteria maystill be active.

• Alkalinisers (such as Citralite, Citravescent or Ural) can help improve symptoms (such as stinging during urination) and can be purchased at a pharmacy and some supermarkets.

Please check with your doctor or pharmacist if these can be taken with any other medications you may be taking. Another option is to take one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water (250ml) three times a day.

Home care

• Ensure you completely empty your bladder fully each time you urinate.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Take mild painkillers, such as paracetamol, for the pain (if necessary).
• Place a warm pack, such as a wheat bag or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, on your abdomen or back to help relieve pain.

What to expect

While cystitis can be very uncomfortable, it is easy to treat with antibiotics. They act quickly and symptoms often improve within two days.

If symptoms persist, see your local doctor. Cystitis can become serious if left untreated, and may lead to kidney infection and sometimes kidney failure.

Can cystitis happen again?

Women who have had one infection are likely to develop another. This is more likely in sexually active women.

Recurrent cystitis should be treated early, so see your local doctor if your urinary symptoms return. This is especially important if you are pregnant, as an untreated infection may affect the growth of your baby.

If your cystitis keeps coming back, you may need further tests and a referral to a urologist (a doctor who specializes in urinary problems) for further treatment. Some people need to take antibiotics every day to prevent repeat infections.

Prevention

There are some simple measures you can take to prevent further attacks.

• Drink plenty of water.
• Pass urine often, empty your bladder completely and do not ‘hold on’.
• Wipe yourself from front to back (urethra to anus) after going to the toilet.
• Use a lubricant during sex. If you are able to, try to avoid using spermicides and diaphragms. You can discuss other forms of contraception with your doctor.
• Pass urine after sex.
• Wear cotton underwear and avoid synthetic or tight-fitting clothing such as jeans or pantyhose.
• Avoid using soap or perfumed products on your genitals.
• Cranberry juice/capsules help prevent infections if taken daily (they stop bacteria sticking to the walls of the bladder).

Tell your doctor if you are taking cranberry supplements as they may interfere with some antibiotics.

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A urinary tract infection (UTI), and particularly one that recurs, can be the bane of a woman’s life. The symptoms are often acutely painful, and if your infection is one that recurs only a short while after you’ve managed to clear it up, it can also be frustratingly annoying! There are no home remedies that will effectively treat a UTI; only a course of antibiotics from your doctor will do that. However, there are a number of simple steps a woman can take to help prevent infection recurring.

Urinary tract infection usually occurs when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and then multiply in the urinary tract. Women are more prone to UTI because we have shorter urethras and therefore it’s easier for bacteria to enter. Some symptoms of UTI are back pain, blood in the urine, pain on urination, and an inability to urinate despite a persistent urge.

In order to help prevent bacteria from entering the urethra, it’s important to keep scrupulously clean and to wipe from front to back. Emptying the bladder after sex will also help flush out any bacteria that might have managed to enter the urethra during intercourse. Studies have shown that women who use a diaphragm or whose partners use a condom with spermicidal lubricant are more at risk of developing a UTI than those women who use other forms of birth control.

Cranberry juice has taken on almost legendary status where the prevention of UTI is concerned, and not without good reason. Eighty-five percent of UTIs are caused as a result of E. coli bacteria. Cranberry juice produces hippuric acid in the urine which acidifies the urine and inhibits the adherence of E. coli cells to the lining of the bladder, thereby reducing the risk of infection. Look for 100 percent cranberry juice which is usually sold in health shops; the regular cranberry juice sold in supermarkets isn’t concentrated enough and contains a lot of sugar. Cranberry juice won’t clear up a UTI but it’s a good preventative measure if you suffer from repeated attacks.

Drinking water will also help flush out any impurities in the bladder so keep up your water intake at all times—before, during, and after a UTI.

Related posts:

1. Cystitis – Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
2. Urinary Incontinence Heavily Affected By Diet
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